Rock thrower



Oct. 5, 1954 e. c. KOHLMIER ROCK THROWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, .1952

INVENTOR.

ATTO/P/VfVS Oct. 5, 1954 G. c. KOHLMIER ROCK THROWER s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4. 1952 I INVENTOR. 660/ e (IA 27am BY 7 V ATmP/vn s 0d. 5, 1954 c. KOHLMIER 2,690,840

ROCK THROWER Filed Oct. 4, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

Gearpa 512mm Patented Oct. 5, 1954 'iNT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates broadly to improvements in rock crushing machinery of the type which crushes or breaks up only rocks above a given size. In machinery of this type loads of gravel, from a gravel pit or the like, are deposited ini-- tially into a hopper from which the gravel is conveyed to the rollers where rocks above a given size are crushed. Because rocks above a given size place undue wear and stress upon the crushing rollers, it is conventional to provide a screen above the hopper to prevent passage into the hop-- per of all rocks above a given size. Frequently this screen becomes partially clogged by the large rocks. In such a case it is necessary to shut the machinery down while one of the workers manually lifts the large rocks from the surface of the screen-or alternatively to risk injury to the workers between dumpings of the scoop-shovel.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a mechanism for mounting the screen whereby the same may be swung from its normal position overlying the hopper to a rock dumping position more than 90 therefrom.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a novel manually controlled power mechanism for imparting rock throwing move ments to said screen.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the type immediately above described which is inexpensive to produce, is rugged in construction, is durable in use and has but a minimum of working parts.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation 01 my novel structure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation taken from the opposite side of Fig. l and showing a different position of some of the parts;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view as seen substantially from the line 3--3 of Fig. l

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 5-4 of Fig. 1, some parts being broken away and some parts indicated by dotted lines; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the crank arm-pitman arm connection of my invention, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral I indicates in its entirety suitable framework of the loading end of a rock crusher. Suitably secured to the frame 6 is a hopper 2 into which gravel A, as it comes from a gravel pit, is deposited through the medium of scoop-shovel or the like B. Normally overlying the hopper 2 is a rigid screen, identified its entirety by the numeral 3, and comprising a rigid rectangular frame t and cross-members 5 pro viding rectangular openings 6 of a desired size. At its rear end the screen 3 is pivotally secured to a transverse shaft l, as indicated at 8, for swinging movements on a horizontal axis. Extending transversely through the frame 5 below the hopper 2 is a rotary shaft 9 to one end portion of which, for common rotation therewith, is secured a sprocket wheel H). Secured to opposite ends of said shaft 9 is a pair of matching crank arms ll. A pair of pitman arms l2 have their opposite ends secured to the outer ends of said crank arms I l, as at 13', and to the frame t of the screen 3, as indicated at M. It will be noted that the pivotal connection it is forwardly spaced with relation to the pivotal connection 8 of the screen 3 to the hopper 2. It will also be noted that the relationship, location and length of the crank arms H and pitman arms 32 is such that, upon rotation of the shaft 9, the screen 3 will be swung from the normal horizontal position of Fig. 3 to the full line rock-dumping position of Fig. 2more than of arc therefrom. As shown in Fig. 4, the shaft 5 is journalled in spaced bearings I5 in longitudinally extended frame member l6.

Spaced forwardly from the shaft 9, in substantially the same horizontal plane therewith, is a rotary drive shaft ll having its intermediate portion journalled in spaced bearings l8 secured to the horizontal frame members It. Rigidly secured to one end of the drive shaft it, for common rotation therewith, is a sprocket wheel (9. A drive chain 28 runs over sprocket wheels ill and I9. Journalled for rotation on the opposite end of the drive shaft ll is a power operated driving member or sprocket wheel 2| having a clutch element 22 associated therewith. A collar is mounted on the shaft I? for limited sliding movements with respect thereto, whereby to engage and disengage a clutch element 24, carried thereby, with the clutch element 22 associated with the sprocket wheel 2|. As shown, the collar 23 is provided with a pair of laterally-spaced circular flanges 25 which provide an annular recess 25 for the reception of opposed roller elements 2i carried by the outer end of bifurcated tongue 28, see Figs. 1 and 4. As shown, particularly by reference to Fig. 1, the upper end of the tongue 28 is rigidly secured by means of a nut or the like 29 to one end portion of a rock shaft 38 journalled in suitable bearings 3| in the frame I. Also, as shown, the rock shaft 30 is provided with a radially projecting handle 32.

As shown, a source of power is provided for the sprocket Wheel 2| through a medium of a chain 38 which ,runs thereover and over a sprocket wheel 34 mounted on a shaft 35. Shaft 35 is rotated by means of a source of power not shown.

When gravel from a. scoop-shovel like B is dumped onto the screen 3, as shown in Fig. 1, all but rocks above a given size will be allowed to pass through the openings 6 therein. All rocks above this size will be retainedon the upper. surface of the screen 3. Between periodic dumpings of the scoop-shovel B, these large rocks may be quickly and easily removed by the operators merely pulling inwardly upon handle 32 while standing on a platform X whereby to rock the shaft 30 and the bifurcated tongue 28 in the same direction, thereby causing the collar 23to slide outwardly on shaft I! to'bring about engagement between the cooperating clutch elements 22 and 24. The pin 36 carried by the shaft l7 and the slot 37 in the collar 23 permit of this sliding movement between these two elements while tying the same together for common rotation. When rotation is imparted to the shaft I! through interlocking of the clutch elements 22 and 24, rotary movement is also imparted to the shaft 9 through chain 20 and sprocket-wheel IE]. Rotation of the shaft 9 causes the crank arms H and the pitman arms [2 to elevate the forward end of screen 3 on the pivot-8 to the full line position of Fig. 2, wherein the large rocks are dumped off under the action ofgravity. A complete rotation of the sprocket wheel ID will bring the screen 3 back to its normal horizontal operative position overlying the hopper 2. At this point, the operator pushes outwardly upon the handle 32 whereby to restore the handleto its normal inoperative vertical position so as to cause disengagement between the cooperating clutch elements 22 and 24. Thereafter, the sprocket wheel 2| rotates freely upon the shaft l1 until it is next desired to impart dumping or rockthrowing movements to the screen 3.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be obvious that same is capable of modification without departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a device of the class described, a frame including laterally spaced parallel horizontally disposed frame members, a normally horizontal rigid screen supported by said frame, means pivotally mounting one extreme end of said screen between said frame members for swinging movements from and back to said normal horizontal position about a horizontal axis, a rotary shaft in said frame below said screen and extending transversely thereof, a crank arm on one end of said shaft, a pitman arm having its opposite ends pivotally connected to the outer end of said shaft and to said screen forwardly of the pivotal mounting thereof, said crank arm and pitman being of a length to swing said screen from its normal horizontal position to a dumping position slightly in excess of of arc therefrom, a power operated mechanism for imparting movement to said rotary shaft comprising a drive shaft, a power operated driving member journalled on said driving shaft, a clutch element associatedwith said driving member, a collar mounted on said drive shaft for common rotation therewith. and for limited axial movements with respect thereto, a second clutch element associated with said collar and engageable with said first-mentioned clutch element on axial movements of said collar in one direction, means for shifting said collar on said shaft to cause engagement and disengagement between said clutch elements, and driving connections between said drive shaft and said rotary shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 869,820 Winans Oct. 29, 1907 1,664,721 Worthington Apr. 3, 1923 1,684,095 I-Ieaton Sept. 11, 1928 1,787,892 Bordeaux Jan. 6, 1931 1,811,382 Bordeaux June 23, 1931 1,986,864 Tolley Jan. 8, 1935 2,107,532 Hallenbeck Feb. 8, 1938 2,396,954 Kranz Mar. 19, 1946 

